Time to put up or shut up is a pretty huge cliché, but I prefer to think of it as a classic. The Pirates are apparently interested in two fairly decent Major League caliber free agents, Josh Willingham and Kevin Kouzmanoff. These aren’t Pujols level signings by any means, but they’d be pretty good for the Pirates team looking to add some offense.

Maybe I’ve been a Pirates fan for too long, but I’ll believe it when I see it. I refuse to get caught in the Pirates “talking” to free agent baseball players I know they will never sign.

I am not saying the Pirates have to sign Albert Pujols or Jose Reyes, but it would be nice if the team would actually sign a decent second or third tier free agent. I am tired of the Pirates signing bottom tier free agents and trying to spin them as something more than they are.

The Pittsburgh Pirates had a great start to the 2011 season, but then quickly it all went down the tubes. The Pirates biggest flaw in 2011 was offense. The pitching staff carried the team through the first four months of the season, but eventually it just fell apart. One component can only carry the entire time for so long. The Pirates management team has expressed interest in adding more offensive firepower to the team.

Josh Willingham’s .246/29/98/.332 would definitely be a great addition to the Pittsburgh Pirates line-up, but until Bob Nutting actually puts his money where his GM and President’s mouth is, it will just be the same old smoke and mirrors.

I’m about as big of a Pirates fan as you’ll likely meet, but I am tired of salary dumps being masqueraded as the team waiting to make a big splash in free agency. Until I see Josh Willingham or another mid-tier free agent introduced at a press conference, wearing a Pirates cap, I will just expect another offseason of disappointment.

April through July of 2011 was the most exciting baseball played in Pittsburgh since 1992. It really showed that the city is hungry for a winning baseball team again. The Pirates need to strike while the iron is hot. The young core is ready; the time to win is now. I’m not expecting a World Series title in 2012, but 81 wins would be amazing. No one wants to see a 20th straight losing season, but unless the Pirates make some quality moves in the offseason, that is exactly what we will get.